I flap my wings in agitation. “Should I learn from you? You know, I’m disappointed after our close working relationship that you tried to have my pretty head parted from my shoulders. I thought that you’d started to become fond of me, boss.”
“Fond of imagining you dying blind and in agony like your family, friends and court did at my hand.”
“Nay, don’t you dare talk sexy to me.”
Maximinus backhands me, but I don’t fall.
Instead, I viciously grin, delighting in spitting the blood in his direction.
He hisses in disgust —bullseye. “Filthy savage.”
“It’s unfair to throw in some degradation kink, when I’m naked and can’t even hide how hard you’re making me.”
“Slut.And you will be the Shadow Vampire King’s.” Maximinus grips me by my curls, and I grit my teeth. My skin crawls. The gentle way that he strokes my hair makes me wince more than his hit did. “This is a new look.”
“Do you like it? It’s calledthe preventing my throat from being torn outstyle.”
“It suits you. Sweet to hide the serpent with fangs underneath.”
I bare my sharp canines at him. “It’s why I’m called Dove now.”
“As if a violent banditravenlike youcould ever be a dove.”
“That’s why it’s called a disguise.”
“And who gave you permission to hide your identity?”
“My survival instinct.”
A long moment, then finally, Maximinus lets go of my hair.
I take a steadying breath.
I strain to listen.
Where is he?
Suddenly, I hear the swish of movement as he turns away, the march of footfalls, then the slam of a drawer being opened.
What is he doing?
“Stand up,” Maximinus orders.
Shakily, I struggle to push myself to my feet. My muscles burn. The soles of my feet are cold on the marble floor.
I cradle my injured wrist against my chest, before taking a deep breath and pushing the joint back into place.
I double over with a howl.
“Our healers could have done that,” Maximinus comments.
“Would you have sent for one?”
“Of course not.”
“Oh, go fuck yourself in the arse.”
“Silence. Also, stand still, or I will bind you with enchanted chains.” Maximinus’ voice is suddenly far closer than I was expecting, as I dealt with the pain in my wrist. When he begins to slip a silky, satin robe over my head, I rear back. “Oi, I’m not a doll.”
